Iowans are encouraged to strive for better health and a cleaner environment by riding their bicycles to work this week — and if they like it — maybe for much of the year. Angie Dalton, of Des Moines, is one of the organizers of Bike to Work Week in Iowa. She says the idea is to get bicycle riders and those who don’t normally ride to start thinking about alternative forms of transportation, not only for going to work but for getting groceries and other everyday trips. While some Iowans might be apprehensive about the labor involved or arriving at work all sweaty, Dalton says there are practical solutions. She says to organize your route and once you get into shape, you won’t be sweating much when you get to work. Dalton encourages employers to provide parking for bikes and to provide the bikers with facilities to get cleaned up. Besides bicycling being good for building muscles and endurance, she says the sport helps relieve pollution as well as your financial burdens. Someone who normally commutes to work could save a lot of money on gas and parking by leaving the car in the garage and taking a bicycle — in addition to getting their exercise. Dalton says commuting to work will take about twice as long as driving, but even if you spend an extra 20 minutes or a half-hour riding, that’s time you don’t have to spend in a stuffy gym. For more information, she says to surf to “www.bikeiowa.com”.